adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading The dining-room was a really magnificent apartment.
armorialadjective
of or relating to heraldry or heraldic arms
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
bearingsnounUS /ˈberɪŋz/
plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
brightestadjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtəst/
superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
buffetsnounUS /ˈbʌfəts/
plural of “buffet” — a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
carvedadjectiveUS /kɑːrvd/
made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
Champdoce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
ChateaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/
an impressive country house (or castle) in France
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
COUNTverbUS /kaʊnt/
determine the number or amount of
From this reading THE COUNT DE PUYMANDOUR.
DEnounUS /diː/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE COUNT DE PUYMANDOUR.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading The dining-room was a really magnificent apartment.
DuchessnounUS /ˈdʌtʃəs/
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
engravedadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡreɪvd/
cut or impressed into a surface
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
goblets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
groanedverbUS /ɡroʊnd/
past form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
haughtyadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːti/
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
loadnounUS /loʊd/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
magnificentadjectiveUS /mæɡˈnɪfəsənt/
characterized by grandeur
From this reading The dining-room was a really magnificent apartment.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
mountings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
oaknounUS /oʊk/
the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
ornamentedverbUS /ˈɔːrnəmentɪd/
past form of “ornament” — make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
portionnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃən/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
PUYMANDOUR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COUNT DE PUYMANDOUR.
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading The dining-room was a really magnificent apartment.
receptionnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
roomsnounUS /ruːmz/
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
salvers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COUNT DE PUYMANDOUR.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The shelves groaned beneath their load of goblets and salvers of the brightest silver, engraved with the haughty armorial bearings of the house of Champdoce.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dining-room was a really magnificent apartment.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Since the death of the Duchess of Champdoce the greater portion of the Chateau had been closed, but the reception rooms were always ready to be used at a very short notice.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were massive buffets of carved oak, black with age, ornamented with brass mountings.
